Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of Senna and Cassia species (Fabaceae) extracts

Author(s)

Gomes do Nascimento, Michelle Nauara ^[1] ; Martins, Mario Machado ^[2] ; Scalon Cunha, Luis Carlos ^[3] ; Santos, Paula de Souza ^[2] ; Goulart, Luiz Ricardo ^[2] ; Silva, Thayna de Souza ^[4] ; Gomes Martins, Carlos Henrique ^{[4, 5]} ; Lemos de Morais, Sergio Antonio ^[1] ; Pivatto, Marcos ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Uberlandia, Inst Chem, Nucleus Res Nat Prod NuPPeN, Av Joao Naves de Avila 2121, BR-38400902 Uberlandia, MG - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Uberlandia, Inst Biotechnol, Lab Nanobiotechnol NANOS, Av Para 1720, BR-38400902 Uberlandia, MG - Brazil

^[3] Fed Inst Triangulo Mineiro, Bioprospecting Ctr Nat Prod NuBiProN, Chem Dept, Av Joao Batista Ribeiro 4000, BR-38064790 Uberaba, MG - Brazil

^[4] Univ Franca, Lab Res Appl Microbiol LaPeMA, Nucleus Res Sci & Technol, Av Dr Armando Salles de Oliveira 201, BR-14404600 Franca, SP - Brazil

^[5] Univ Fed Uberlandia, Inst Biomed Sci, Lab Res Antimicrobial Trials LaPEA, Av Para 1720, BR-38400902 Uberlandia, MG - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS; v. 148, JUN 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

In Brazilian traditional medicine, botanical species belonging to the genera Senna and Cassia are widely used as laxative, analgesic, and antifungal agents to treat ringworm and other fungal skin infections. This has motivated us to select and to screen ten species of these genera for their antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities. The leaf or flower ethanol extracts were investigated against aerobic and anaerobic oral bacteria and Candida spp.; the microdilution broth method was employed. Cytotoxicity was determined against Vero cells. Among the plant extracts evaluated herein, four extracts at 200.0-400.0 mu g mL(-1) presented moderate activities against at least two bacterial strains. Concerning the antifungal action, the S. macranthera flower ethanol extract exerted significant antifungal effect with MIC values ranging from 5.9 to 23.4 mu g mL(-1). This extract was submitted to liquid-liquid extraction, and the resulting fractions were tested. The ethyl acetate fraction showed better antifungal activity (MIC values of 5.9 mu g mL(-1) for C. glabrata and 23.4 mu g mL(-1) for C. albicans and C. tropicalis) as compared with amphotericin B (0.1-0.2 mu g mL(-1)), used as positive control. The bioactive metabolites of this fraction were identified by UHPLC-ESI/HRMS/MSn, which revealed the presence of eighteen compounds, including one organic acid (1), two flavan-3-ol (2 and 3), one flavone (4), two glycosylated flavonols (5 and 6), five proanthocyanidin dimers (7-11b), and seven proanthocyanidin trimers (12-18). The antimicrobial activities of some Senna or Cassia species studied here have been reported for the first time. The present results show that S. macranthera flowers are an interesting source of new antifungal agents. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/50926-0 - INCT 2014: biodiversity and natural products
• Grantee: Vanderlan da Silva Bolzani
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants